Step 11: Surplus/Bargain Retail sites

Step 12: Best Electronic Suppliers

Here is a list of best and recommended electronic suppliers below. Please note most of those suppliers on this list do not offer samples.Thanks to Bre...

Did you know that some manufactures and suppliers will give away some free samples of their produces to customers and engineers to test them on their projects?

They are some rules you should know before you start getting free samples from the companies:

You should never ask for more than you need, because you are not going to use the extra parts you are given, that means don't be greedy.

Taking free samples from the companies and selling them on places like ebay to make your self an profit is an absolute no-no (unless the company says you can do it). Those parts are meant to be used for your projects, NOT for resale.

Just to be fair to the companies where you got your samples from, buy some of their products.

There is another instructable that is similar to this, check it out! List Of **FREE STUFF** For your projects, it has a lot of useful information about some companies that give away free samples, and tells you how to get free samples.

There is also a helpful site you should check out to! ladyada.net, there is a lot more helpful information about the free sample sites.

Also big thanks to Wesley666 for finding many manufactures and suppliers that will give away free samples!

What Wesley666 has to say:Will try to update each step into companies that ship to ONLY North America and ones that ship World Wide to help ppl order samples from anywhere ASAP.

If you find any of our links, they don't work or you cant order samples, I will fix them as soon as possible. And I do try to check my comments at least once a day.

Yes, and I will try to update sites as often as possible when I find new places to sample from!

Don't be greedy and try to lie as little as possible

*Also look for the sample buttons because they are hard to spot sometimes but if you can't then you should send an E-mail!*

It is relatively easy to make them at home. that said, I haven't got to that stage yet. Nonetheless, there are plenty instructions on a website i know of. Here's a link: http://www.instructables.com/ . And with programs like Fritzing, you can order one off pcbs for a low price. Hope I helped!

TI are great, so far they were the only ones I used for ICs. they are really really reliable and the delivery is quick, even to England! however, most of the time, you will only find soic and other surface mount packages, not DIP packages. I was fortunate enough to find 555 timers in a DIP package thogh, so if you persevere, they are brilliant.

Hahaha! I requested two samples from e-switch and they had a representative come to my house and hand-deliver them! Man what a nice company! Two rock solid switches as well! They must be getting lots of customers like this.

I will strongly recommend to ask for very few rare stuff that is needed urgently or that it's pretty hard to find in your place. Component vendors are looking for profit (obviously) and many are implementing locks like corporate email addresses, along with estimating annual usage. For quick and easy supplies I would recommend to go to a broker like newark, digikey, mouser (no preference). I live in Mexico and even if what I can get in local stores is very consumer oriented (radioshack here only sells TVs, phones and batteries, not components), these providers reach you at a reasonable cost.

Anyone know what honeycomb is used for/proper name for it, and which place I could get a small amount really quick? I need it for an art project, and I am not sure where I can find it(perfectibility in Toronto) or where I could order it? I got it from a sample pack asking for semiconductors a few years back, but I lost their catalog and samples.

Thanks x_x

this stuff http://www.forkstudio.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/softbox_0017.jpg

I have a question that i live in India and if i order samples from a US website, will they charge me for shipping of the materials, i am in need of some 2-3 resistors, a relay, a 555 timer and some transistors?

I have had a great experience with Samtec. I was able to get some really nice USB ports from them for free, no questions asked. And the best part --free next day air shipping! But only get what you need so we can all use their wonderful service.

You may not have heard of oddWires (oddwires.com) but we're an up and coming company specializing in Arduino, audio and low-cost component packs for hobbyists & professionals alike. Some unique offerings include the PT2322 audio processing ship with a library to enable you to control your 5.1 amp from your Arduino. Example sketch & library available. Authorized Arduino Distributor.